Supply and feed system for hydrocarbon-engines.



T. VAN TUYL.

' SUPPLY AND FEED SYSTEM FOR HYDROGARBON ENGINES.

Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED 13116.19, 1910.

APPLICATION FILED DEU.19,1910. 1,098, 1 38. P en e May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. V

with a valve or valves ra n T0 ALBERT E. coon, or

SUPPLY AND FEED SYSTEM FOR HYDROCABBON-ENGINES.

- Application filed December 19, 1910. fierial No. 598,248.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs VAN Turn, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Kankakee, in the county of Kankakee and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supplyand Feed Systems for Hydrocarbon-Engines; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numbers ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

It is a common experience in the use of the automobile and the launchfor error in calculation in the rate of use of the hydrocarbon to resultin the consumption of all the supply before warning of any kind. isgiven the operator, thus frequently-causing vexatious delays andsometimes even considerable danger.

It is the object of this invention to atlord a hydro-carbon storage andfeed system of such a construction as to insure warning being given tothe operator while still a sutficient supply of thehydrorarbon remainsin the tank to enable a run of a considerable distance to be made beforerefillingl It is also an object of the invention to afi'ord a device inconnection with the fluid and supply system whereby an audible signalwill be given the operator before the supply of-hydrocarbon isexhausted.

It is a further object of the invention to ailord a storage tank orcontainer provided so arranged as to necessitate adjustment of the valveor valves when a predetermined quantity of hydro carbon fluid has beenwithdrawn from the tank to permit an additional drawn therefrom. 1

It is further an object t the invention to afford in a device of. theelass'de'scribed a float feed receptacle connected immediately to supplythe ei'igine and provided with means afl'ordiug an audible signal whenthe supply of hydro-carbon is exhausted there- I from and to afford inconnection therewith fa storage or supply tank provided with a fplurality of valves, each permitting but a portion of the contents'ofsaid tank tobe withdrawn therethrough without adjustnient of the valve,

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully POlIllBBijlll; and defined in the appended claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 9 1s a quantity to be Patented May at, 191.4.

of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2'

is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal, sec, tion of the valves and theoperating means therefor. Fig. 3'is a similar fragmentary longitudinalsection of the valves. Fig. 4 s a top plan view of the indicator. Fig. 5IS an enlarged sectional view of the check valve tor the float feedsuppl receptacle. F g. 6 is a transverse section 0 the whistle. F1g. 7is a fragmentary sectional view. of a modified form of the supply tankvalve. 8 is a similar view showing a slightly different arrangement ofthe, plug valve.

Zragm'entary sectional view further modification of supply tank. Fig.lOis tom plan View thereof.

As shown in the drawings: The supply tank 1, is provided with suitablevalves the valves for the a'fragmentary botwhereby the contents of thetank cannot be cured to which is a stem 6, which extends downwardly in atube 7', co-axially with the inwardly directed end of the supply pipe 2,I and, as shown, the upwardly directed end of the supply-pipe and thedownwardly directed end of the pipe or sleeve 7, serve as valve seats onwhich engages a ball closure 8, at either limit of movement of thetravel of the float, asshown in Figs. 1 and 5. Thus, when the supply ofgasolene in the reservoir rises above normal, the upward movement of thefloat serves to close the valve, discontinuing the inflow tothe'reservoir.

Connected in-the upperf'end ot the reservoir 3, is a pipe 9, providedon'its extremity with a whistle 10, of. familianform; Secured in thebottom of the tank 1, is 'a'fianged fitting 11, the upper end of whichprojects within the tank and which is provided at its lower end beneaththe, tank withajtapered peripherally apertured nozzle. the lower end ofthe fitting to of which opens thesupply pipe 2, which is secured theretoby means of a suitable union 13, which threads upon a threaded boss '14,on said cup and which is apertured to1receive the supplypipetherethrough. ,Acore Screwed on inclose said nozzle is a metalliccup 12, intothe bottoie ofa ' responding fitting 15,provided with aflange which fits beneath the top of the can, is secured in place, bymeans of a flanged v and threaded collar 14, which threads in the upperopen end of saidfitting, as shown in Fig. 2, and threaded into each ofsaid fittings and connecting the same is a cylindric pipe 17. 4Rotatable in said pipe 17, and fitting closely 'therein is a cylindricpipe 19, having the end thereof tapered as before described withreference to the nozzle on the p p 17, and r-igi dly secured in theupper end thereof is a plug or stopper 20, pro vided' with a peripheralflange 21, which engages'beneath the flange of the threaded collar 14and as shown, said plug is provided with a key slot to receive thereinthe key 22, for rotating the same.

The outer pipe 17, is, provided with an aperture 23, asshownapproximately at one third the depth of the tank below the top, a secondaperture '24:, at approximately one third the depth of thetank above thebottom 7 and near' the bottorn'thereof and extending through the fitting11, is an aperture 25. Ina similar manner, the inner p1pe'19, 1s

' I provided with an, aperture 26, to correspond aperture 23, theremaining apertures in the pipe 19, are out of register with theremaining aperturds in the pipe 17, and this is true also when'any otherof the apertures of said pipe are in register with its correspondingaperture in the outer pipe.

In practice, after-the storage tank 1, is nearly filled with gasolene,air under pressure is forccdtherein to exert suflicient pressure on thecoutents'thereof to discharge he same into the feed reservoin. Markedupon the top of the tank surrounding the key aperture, and, ifpreferred, upon the flange of the collarv 14, are the words Glosed,First, Second and Empty arranged ninety degrees (90 apart, and the key,as

' shown, is provided with a laterally directed projection or indicator28, which serves as a pointer toindicate the quantity of gasoleneren'iaining in the tank. When the tank is full, the kef'is inserted withthe point 28, directed over the word Closed and the key is then turnedto first position or at a right angle with its starting position,thereby bringingthe aperture'26, in the inner tube in register with theaperture 23,'in the outer tube, and permitting the gasolene or otherhydro-carbon from the tank to flow supply of gasolene.

therethrough and downwardly to the float feed reservoin The twointerfitting pipes senses a valve to close the apertures 24 and 25 inthe outer pipe, inasmuch as the apertures in the inner pipe are not thenin register therewith. In consequence, when. the supply of hydro-carbonhas fallen sufliciently low to permit the aperture through which thegasolene is flowing to the'float fee'd reservoir to be uncovered, theair flows into said pipe, connecting pipe 2 and float feed reservoir andescaping therefrom through the pipe 9 and whistle 10, gives an audiblesignal to indicate the necessity of the operator for providing for afurther This is accomplished by adjusting the key for the point toindicate Second position. The flow now passes from the supply ankthrough the apertures 27 and 24;, nu in a similar manner an audiblesignal will be aiforded when the level of the gasolene or' hydrocarbonin the tank has fallen so low that a supply ofthegasolene no longer ismaintained for the float feed reservoir. The operator now knows that hisavailable supply of gasolene is small and adjusts the key to point toEmpty, which indicates the adj ustment of tlie flyalves to permit theentire contents of the gasolene supply tank to be drained therefrom. Ineach instance, however, a sutlicient supplyof hydro-carbon remains inthe float feed reservoir to continue the operationof the enginesuiliciently long after the audible signal is afforded to permil: theoperator to adjust for an additional supply before the engine will stopfor lack' of fuel. VVgen the signal is heard on the second adji, stmentand the operator adjusts to Empty ''position, he is thereby warned tomake {the earliest possible provision to secure an adequate supply ofhydro-carbon before the limited quantity remaining in the supply tank beexhausted. Of course, it is quite immaterial what arrangement andparticular type of valves be employedin so regulating the flow of thehydro-carbon fluid from the supply tank to the motor or engine, Numerousways will readily suggest themselves, as, for instance, a plug valvecasing 29,, is secured in the wall of thesupply tank near thebottomthereof and communlcating with said casing is an upwardlydirected, open ended pipe 30, whichextends to approximately the middleof thetank or to a point where a sufiicient supply'of the hydro-carbonis still available for useto avoid annoying delays, even afterthewhistle signal is heard.

The valve casing 29, is apertured l the top inwardly to the bore andfrom. the

side of the plug to register with either the upper or lower apertures inthe plug valve casing. depending upon the ad ustment of the plug. The(Olbtl'lll'tlflll illustrated in Fig. b 18 substantially the same,except ng that the plug valve casing 35, is secured in the bottom of thetank instead ofv the side or end thereof, and projects straight upwardlythcreinto. The plug 36, extends upwardly and tits in the casing andextends at. its inner end thcrethroug'h and into the tank, and securedon said inner end is an upwardly extending tube 37, the length of which,as before described, is sulticicnt to insure a reasonable amountof gaslcnc in the tank after the flow thereof ceases through the top of saidtube. The aforesaid plug 38 is provided with a peripheral groove 36,which ail'ords communication between the inner bore of the plug and thepipe 2 through an aperture in the fitting 35, as shown in Fig. 8, and assimilarly described with reference to the plug, 34: of Fig. 7. As shownalso, a pin 39, extends through said pipe 37, and upper tube to rigidlyconnect the same together. Ofcourse', an audible signal is provided towarn the operator of the deficiency of the. fuel supply and this isoperated through the medium of a float feed reservoir, as beforedescribed.

In the constructitm illustrated in 9 and 10, the tank 40, is provided inthe bottom thereof with two casings ll and 42, which open upwardly intothe tank and seated in each of the same is a conical plug valve closuresuch as before described, bored to afford the one a passage for thegasolene flowing from near the top of the tank and the other bored to aford a passage for the ga'solcne to permit the same to flow from thebottom of the tank. A pipe 43, connects the casings of said valves andis in turn connected with the gasolenc supply pipe 2. Of course, I amwell aware that the particular form and arrangement of the valves isquite immaterial for any of the well known and suitably constructedvalves upon the market might be constructed to snfiice for the purposeindicated. Preferably, however, a device such as described should be atall times subject to the immediate and convenient control of theoperator and any valve suited for this purpose will suliice I thereforedo not'p'nrpose limiting this application for patent otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

i claim as my invention:-

l. A device of the class described comprisinga fuel tank adapted to feedfuel by compressed gas pressure, an outlet valve in the tank having aplurality of inlet ports adapted to conununicate with the interior ofthe tank at; dill'orent levels, and means for placing; any one ofsaidports in comniunication with said tank, a maintained oil level reservoirconnected to said valve, and

means for producing an audible signal connccted to said reservoirwhereby when the liquid level in the tank falls to the level of theoutlet; through which it is being drawn the gas escaping from the ankwill actuate said signal means.

2. A gasolene supply tank adapted to de-, liver fuel under gas pressure,a valve connectcd therein and capable of adjustmcnttodraw predeterminedquantities of the contents of the tank therefrom, a maintained oil levelfeed reservoir connected therewith,

and means connected to the reservoir for affording an audible signalwhen the predetermined quantity has been withdrawnl 3. A device of theclass described embracing a supply tank, a fianged fit-t-ing secured inthe bottom of the tank and having one end thereof aperturcd andprojectimg into the tank and the other end tapered to afford aperipherally apertured nozzle, a second fitting secured in the top ofthe tank, a cylindric pipe connecting said fittings and apcrtnrcd atdilferent distances from the bottom of the tank, a similarly aperturedpipe *rotatably secured in said first men tioned pipe and having thelower end thereof apcrtnrcd and tapered to correspond with the lirstmentioned fitting, means secured in the upper end of the rotatable pipeadapted voir connected with said discharge valve, and signalmeansconnected with said auxilv iary tank and operated by the ,gas underpressure from the supply tank WhBIl'lllBRS-j ured quantities of the fuelhave flowed therefrom;

In testimony whereof -I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

1 T THOMAS VAN TUYL. Witnesses v LAwnENon Rnins'rnm, CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr.

